Our
first week in Pensacola was spent doing water survival activities, aviation physiology
(health issues related to flying), and ejection techniques. Pensacola Naval Air
Station is a wonderful venue for us to begin our training. During the week of
training we all encountered various challenges. Through these challenges we learned
to persist and learn from our mistakes and to work as a team.

Weekly
Highlights: Ejection seat training, a.k.a. “riding the rails,” a simulator
to teach you how to properly eject from a jet. The low pressure chamber playing
the “Pensacola Patty Cake” to learn the symptoms of the onset of hypoxia
(lack of O2) in ourselves and others. The Multispatial Disorientation Device,
a.k.a. the “spin and puke,” to feel what it is like when your eyes
and inner ear (balance) are fooled either by darkness or clouds or g-forces. The
helo-dunker which simulates a helicopter crash at sea. You are strapped in and
dropped into the water. It sinks and rolls over, and you are then expected to
release yourself and escape to designated windows. If that is not difficult enough,
they then blindfold you and have you do it again. The last day was spent learning
how to perform a parachute landing. After using a virtual reality trainer, jumping
and rolling from four feet up, and being dragged along a field, we feel ready
in case it ever becomes necessary. We will begin ground school next week for the
T-34 trainer.